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A BOOK of 

DISTINCTIVE 
INTERIORS 



EDITED BY 

WILLIAM A. VOLLMER 




NEW YORK 

McBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY 
1912 



Copyright, 1910, 1911, 1912, by 
McBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY 



Hl< 7 



: 



Vt 



Published 'November, 19/2 



©CI.A328921 



Contents 

PAGE 

Planning the Living-room ...... 5 

By A. Raymond Ellis 

Designing the Dining-room . . . . .47 

By A. Raymond Ellis 

Decorating and Furnishing the Bedroom ... 69 

By Margaret Greenleaf 

The Problem of the Bathroom ..... 87 

By A. Raymond Ellis 

The Proper Treatment for the Nursery ... 99 

By Sarah Ley burn Coe 

Characteristic Halls and Stairway Types . . . 108 

Planning the Kitchen . . . . . . .116 

By James Earle Miller 




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[4] 




Planning the Living-room 



A FTER the method of modern planning, the living-room is treated 
as the principal room in the house. I do not mean to say that 
this room should be overdone, or given undue prominence to the 
exclusion of the other rooms, but it is essential that this room be 
treated differently from the old-fashioned way we formerly treated 
our living-rooms, then generally a front and back parlor. These two 




A lounge before the fireplace becomes more useful if a table bearing a lamp is placed 
behind it. Cypress is reasonable for interior trim, costing from sixty to sixty-eight 
dollars a thousand feet 

[5] 




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[6] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 7 

rooms have now been superseded by one large room, as our mode 
of living and entertaining makes it more desirable than the two small, 
stuffy rooms, then used only occasionally. To-day we plan to give 
pleasure and comfort to the family, rather than the occasional guest. 
There are probably two or three dozen ways that the living-room 
can be planned and decorated and at the same time be comfortable 
and attractive. I have chosen to illustrate this with a type of living- 
room that adapts itself to almost any house and offers the greatest 
amount of free space when the room is properly furnished. The 
room is 15 ft. x 29 ft. 6 in., with a ceiling height of 9 feet, these 
dimensions giving a well-proportioned room. The fireplace is in 




This reception room has chiefly Louis XVI furniture, which appears well with the light 
gray and white woodwork designed after the Adam style 



8 A Book of Distinctive Interi 



ors 



the center of the west wall, flanked on each side by two French doors 
which open out on a piazza. At each end of the room are two win- 
dows, balancing one another. On the east wall a wide opening with 
French doors permits access to the main hall. The most prominent 
feature of the room is the fireplace, which is accentuated and made 



Such architectural features as beamed ceilings should only be used in rooms 
of pretentious size. A good example of Caen stone fireplace is found here 



a natural center. This is an important consideration when planning 
a natural grouping of the family or its guests. 

The treatment of the room is Colonial. A low wainscot, 2 ft. 6 
in. high, comprising a base, panel, and cap, is carried around the 
room. The ceiling is beamed with four substantial beams and a half 
beam to form a cornice around the room at the junction of the wall 
and ceiling. Over the heads of the doors and windows there is a 
wide wooden frieze with a cap which ties them, one might say, to the 
bottom of the cornice, and makes them more completely an integral 
part of the woodwork. The window stools form a part of the 
wainscot cap. 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 9 

The finish of the room is white wood, given four coats of lead 
and oil paint, with a fifth coat of white enamel, rubbed down, and a 
sixth and final finishing coat of enamel of an ivory shade that dries 
out with a very dull satin-like luster that is very durable and not 
easily marred. Above the wainscot the walls are covered with a 




A summer living-room that achieves a brilliant note through white woodwork 
and figured hangings with upholstery to match 



heavy background paper having a body color almost of a putty shade, 
enlivened in certain lights with a pinkish caste. This is accented by the 
panels, between the windows and doors, of a delicately hued fabric 
with a foliated striped design. A flat molding covers the edge of the 
fabric and forms the panel. In order to balance these and add char- 
acter to the room, the draperies at the windows and doors are of soft 
blue velour, without which the scheme would be lifeless and flat. The 
facing of the fireplace is of Sienna marble surmounted with a simple 
mantel, consisting merely of a heavy classical architrave, with a shelf 
above and a large plate glass mirror over it. One must not lose sight 
of the fact that the colors of this room, while light and delicate, are 



10 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



all very rich and warm, due to the predominating ivory color of the 
woodwork, enlivened and strengthened by the richer and heavier 
color used in the panels and curtains. 

The ceiling is sand-finished and tinted to match the walls. The 
floor is of quartered oak, filled and given two coats of a finish which 




Some would consider it bold to combine white walls and white woodwork 
in the living-room. The rug, pictures and furniture covering, however, 
are chosen with an eye to bright colors 



produces a durable even surface with a dull luster that is not so 
slippery as a waxed floor. The disposition of the rugs over this floor 
is a matter of personal taste and the amount one can afford for rugs. 
The rugs should be Oriental and of light uniform coloring. The 
plans show probably the most economical way of covering the floor — 
using one large rug as a center and filling with smaller rugs. One 
large rug might be obtained that would extend from the piano to the 
pier glass, but it would have to be an odd shape or specially made. 
Two large rugs might be used, one in each end of the room, with a 
small rug to fill in before the fireplace. The approximate positions 
and proper design for the various pieces of furniture used in the 
room are indicated. 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



ii 



In order to obtain the real benefit of the fireplace, it is necessary 
to have a broad comfortable sofa or an upholstered mahogany seat 
in front of it. In back of this should be a small mahogany table on 
which an ornamental lamp may stand. On each side of the table can 
be drawn up large comfortable chairs. This arrangement permits 




Where a living-room is long, various parts of it may be devoted to different 
uses, one end being a library and the other a sitting-room for instance, 
with a corner for deskwork 



the light of the lamp to fall in the correct position for anyone wishing 
to read in the chairs or on the seat in front of the fireplace. At one 
side of the fireplace a large wing-chair would be well placed. The 
bookcases would, of course, be unnecessary if there were a library in 
the house, but where the living-room is to answer the general purposes 
of the family, the book-shelves would be found very useful, and could 
be movable or built in as part of the finish. Between the northern 
windows a fine position is obtained for the piano, on the right of which 
is a good place for a davenport. 

The disposition of the minor pieces of furniture need not be men- 
tioned, except the fact that a pier glass at the opposite end of the 



12 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




The low hanging center light is rapidly being superseded by individual fixtures about 
the room or hung from chains. The three-quarter paneling here is attractive when 
combined with some conventionalized frieze design 



room, between the two southern windows is a very decorative treat- 
ment, and that the corner at the left affords a place for a tea table 
or a Colonial pie-crust table. 

In addition the electric lights are provided with switches, and in 
the baseboard around the room are two plugs for attaching portable 
table lamps. There must also be a bell registering its signal on an 
annunciator in the kitchen, — one ring for a maid — two rings for tea, 
or as the housewife may arrange. 

The cost of the furniture used in this room, covered in cotton, 
made from the architect's drawings, would be as follows: 1 8th cen- 
tury sofa, rolled ends, $90; and it requires 3 1-6 yards of 50-inch 
goods to cover it. Low-boy with drawers, $90 — size 2 ft. 6 in. x 4 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



13 



ft. 6 in. Tip-top tea table, 38 in. in diameter, $60. Martha Wash- 
ington wing-chair, $54, in cotton; requires 5 yards of 50-inch goods 
to cover. Martha Washington armchair, $40, in cotton; requires 2 
yards of 50-inch goods to cover. The crown ladder-back side chairs 
would cost about $35 each in cotton, and the armchair to match, $40. 
The beamed ceiling, door and window casings, mantel and wains- 
cot in the room would cost about $450. If the wainscot were 
omitted about $75 would be saved — the mantel and marble facing 
cost about $100 separately. 

A. Raymond Ellis 




As a general color rule for decoration, red should be used for north rooms and blue for 
east and west rooms; the warmer tones in living-rooms than in bedrooms. This shows 
a good use of scrim curtains with a gathered valance 



H 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




The use of a single large rug as the basis for the floor covering is often very satisfactory. 
This house shows an interesting treatment with a molding that acts as cornice 




There is something in the restraint shown in the fireplace of Indiana limestone with no 
mantel shelf that overdecoration could never have obtained. An interesting feature 
is the use of candle sconces as an auxiliary to the electric lighting 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



15 




Heavy woodwork requires the use of heavy, substantial furniture. In this room, where 
the appearance of craftsmanship is prevalent, such furniture is very suitable 



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A very unpretentious room, but one in good taste. The furniture has all been planned 
for a distinct location and has been built in to it 







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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



17 




Oftentimes four beams only are used for the ceiling; two as a cornice and 
two framing in the chimney-piece 




A consideration of modern house decoration is to provide comfort for 
members. A small den off the living-room affords privacy when others 
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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



19 




Another corner of the bungalow living-room on page 18 shows a good 
type of secretary. The Navajo rugs seem to add a tone of vigor that 
is not found in the rag rugs generally used in this connection 




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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



21 




Two living-rooms in an old Connecticut Colonial house that are decorated with furniture 
in use during Revolutionary times. These flowered papers were considered very rich 
then and have colors well chosen as a background for the dark mahogany furniture 




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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



25 




A charming, little Colonial room is decorated entirely in white woodwork 
with a baseboard. The prim pattern of the flowered wallpaper is 
quite appropriate. The only modern furniture appearing is the wicker 
chair, but it lends no jarring note 




This room with its heavy settles and rag rugs, its ornaments and pic- 
tures, is furnished with nothing but objects from Colonial times. The 
floor with its original wide boards is stained a dark color and much 
of it left bare 




[26] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



27 




The architects of the West are achieving distinction in the creation of a 
particular style. This interior is characteristic of their work. Horizontal 
lines are emphasized and colored brickwork enters as a part of the 
decoration 




A bay with three connecting windows of this sort may be curtained as a 
unit. There is but one valance for the three windows and light silk cur- 
tains are used to match the grass cloth of the walls 




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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



29 




Much of the Colonial carving was extremely simple. Here added decorative detail ap- 
pears in the old-fashioned fireback of modeled iron. The covering of the old rosewood 
furniture is quite in harmony with the wallpaper 




An exemplification of the use of deep colors in the living-room treatment is here shown. 
A restful green makes a good background for large and variously formed pieces 




[30] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



3i 




Built-in furniture is not limited to seats and cupboards. This desk is 
carpenter built, and although quite inexpensive fits more exactly than 
many products that could be purchased. The bookcases encircling the 
room are made part of the desk 



32 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




The living-room of two stories and with mezzanine floor is receiving more and more 
favor for its spacious effect. The simple woodwork in this room is well chosen and 
there is a good suggestion in the lighting fixtures 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



33 




The cream colored walls and woodwork in this English drawing-room 
make an especially fine background for mahogany furniture. This fire- 
place nook is a good example of modern English work 




English architects consider that woodwork may be decorative in itself, 
and finish it so that its natural colors take the place of wall paper. 
The walls are of unfinished plaster 




[34] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



35 




Every house builder should consider that the downstairs living-room may not 
always be occupied by the entire family at one time. The upstairs sitting- 
room provides privacy on all occasions. The mantel treatment here is 
interesting 




The living-room in the same house is rendered distinctive by a large 
inglenook. It is finished in rough plaster and colored in a light tan 



36 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Green and white is a scheme for this summer living-room. White wicker 
chairs are combined with green willow ones and the green design of the 
wall paper is echoed in the green rug with a white pattern 




Even the most modest bungalow may have personality. The match board 
wall is finished with a light stain that shows the grain. India prints with 
their bold colors and striking designs are used for curtains, table and couch 
covers and for the pillows 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



37 




The inside curtains in this living-room are of figured Madras. Although 
they fade, their price is reasonable enough to permit reduplication 
every few years with small expense 




A more formal room is this with its intricate mahogany paneling. The 
ceiling has an architectural cornice, below which the wall is decorated 
with a velour in proper coloring 



38 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




There is a growing desire to build living-rooms that open into the light 
and air. This is as completely furnished as any other room in the house, 
but is given a dark stained lattice background as suitable for plants 




An informal living-room, where the plaster walls are divided by vertical 
strips run from a wide molding to the baseboard. This is a cheap, and if 
properly handled, effective substitute for paneling 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



39 




A living-room that was designed to take advantage of the view in many directions from 
a high situation. A large rug with harmonious colors occupies the center of the floor 
space 




Dutch house builders make a feature of the window nook and most of the light 
is directed toward one part of the room. Matting of an ivory color has been 
selected as a floor covering 




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[40] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



4i 




Another example of the two-story living-room is here shown in more elaborate style 
where the precedent was the Manorial hall of England. Tapestries and heavy wall 
papers are used and the chandeliers are large and elaborate 




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A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



43 




Furniture covering and draperies here are of a large figured English 
chintz. As the ceiling was low, a green paper with a perpendicular 
stripe was used for heightening effect 




The chief feature of this room is the doorway with its fine fan light. 
The chairs in the foreground are of Heppelwhite design 



44 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




In England a great deal of attention is given to centering the family life 
about the hearth. This inglenook has almost the value of an additional 
room. The walls are plain except for the woodwork and the tiling 




The inglenook here has a raised floor of ordinary brick and an attractive 
brick fireplace the mantel of which is a cypress beam supported by 
projecting bricks. The furniture is made consistent by being stained 
and then waxed 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



45 




Glazed tile fireplaces are very much the vogue in England. Here the 
colors are selected to go well with the light ash treatment of the 
woodwork 




The heavy beams in this living-room made it a simple matter to place the 
inglenook. The curved lines of the seat, however, and the grotesque 
plaster figures might grow tiresome, and are most suitable for the 
house occupied only in the summer or one with more informal treatment 




[46] 




Designing the Dinin g-r o o m 



TX7E have a habit, generally, of making the dining-room either 

* English or Colonial in style, I suppose for the reason that we 

have so many good types of furniture in these two styles that their 

use makes it easier to obtain an attractive dining-room. The room 




The plan shows an arrangement for a dining-room about fifteen by sixteen 
feet, showing suggested positions for the rugs and furniture that is consistent 
with the scheme 

[47] 




[48] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



49 



of Flemish character is probably more unusual and I have, therefore, 
chosen to offer a design in this style. 

The room is 15x16 feet in size, opening from a broad hall from 
which it is shut off with glass doors. The morning sun, a very 
essential feature in any dining-room, is obtained through the eastern 




Warm tones are appreciated in a dining-room where the woodwork is all white. 
Here they are obtained in an Oriental rug of good colors. Chairs are of 
present-day manufacture, suggested by Sheraton's work 



window and through the southern windows in the summer, while the 
after-glow of the summer sunset comes through the west window, thus 
insuring a pleasant dining-room at all times. There is nothing so 
cheerless as a breakfast-room which is cut off from the sun in the 
winter, by being isolated in the north or northeastern part of the 
house; it continually exerts a depressing influence on the family at 
meals. 

The dining-room is adjoined by the serving-room, which con- 
nects with the kitchen, affording a quick and direct line of service. 




[5»] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



5i 



It is suggested that the room be wainscoted in oak to a height of 
seven feet, with rectangular panels formed by very flat rails and stiles, 
without any panel moldings. A wide plate-rail forms the cap of the 
wainscot, affording a place to put bits of china and old pieces of 
pewter or copper. Above the wainscot the plaster is sand-finished, 




All the furniture necessary beside the chairs and dining-table is a sideboard 
and a serving-table. The china closet may be dispensed with if a place 
for decorative china is made on a plate rail. This china closet matches well 
and seems part of the room 



as is also the ceiling, and at the intersection of the ceiling and side 
walls a cornice is carried around the room. On the north side is a 
large fireplace, which is a necessity on a rainy day to make breakfast 
cheerful and the room comfortable. It is built of light gray Caen 
stone, which has almost the appearance of limestone. It is imported 
in blocks and is soft enough to be worked into a variety of shapes. 
The hearth has a curb border, raised an inch or two above the level 
of the stone hearth in order to retain the ashes better. A heavy 
carved casing is carried around the stonework of the fireplace, sur- 
mounted by a carved shelf supported on heavy brackets. 

French doors are an essential feature in the dining-room because 



52 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



they permit it to be shut off from the hall and kept warm, and they 
prevent interruptions during the dinner hour. As they are of glass, 
they afford a view into the hall — a very attractive feature, which does 
away with that feeling of oppressiveness experienced sometimes from 
being shut up in a room with solid doors of wood. The floor is of 




Instead of using the separate pieces of dining-room furniture, two sideboards 
were built in flanking the fireplace and as an extension of its woodwork. 
A tapestry paper is used above this wainscot 



oak, filled and given two coats of a finish which has a dull luster and 
enough elasticity to make it durable. The floor should be of a shade 
that is not too light or so dark that it readily shows the dust. 

Opposite the fireplace is a position for the sideboard and there is 
wall space enough for a china-cupboard although I should prefer to 
omit this cumbersome piece of furniture, which everybody shuns with 
the admonition of childhood still ringing in his ears, " mustn't touch." 
Near the door to the serving-room is the proper place for the serving- 
table, and there remains plenty of wall space for chairs. By referring 
to the plan the position of these pieces of furniture will be made 
more clear. 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



53 



The decoration of this room is a simple problem. On the floor 
there should be a rich-colored rug with deep reds in it, strong enough 
to afford a foundation for the dark sturdy Flemish furniture and the 
dark finish of the wainscot. Above the wainscot, the sand-finished 
ceiling and side walls should be sized and painted with three coats of 








A possible variation for the seven-foot wainscot suggested, is the room 
entirely paneled with cypress finished to show the grain. The French 
doors in this room are desirable in a dining-room, as they allow plenty 
of light to enter 



oil paint of a dull golden shade which reflects a warm glow over the 
room when lighted. The rough texture of the sand-finish is well 
adapted for such use as this. Of course a frieze of foliated tapestry 
paper, or real tapestry, could be used with good effect, or even an oil- 
painted frieze representing a scene from medieval history is permis- 
sible. It is safe to say that all of these schemes would be good, 
though, of course, there would be a great difference in their cost. The 
radiator under the east window should be painted to match the color 
of the wainscot. To obtain the correct shade for this wainscot, the 
wood should go through several processes of staining. The first coat 
is a deep penetrating stain of burnt Sienna hue to form a mellowing 
base, similar to the warm colors the old masters used in their paint- 



54 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



ings. This makes a warm color to reflect through the succeeding 
coats of darker stain, each coat of which should be rubbed into the 
wood and any superfluous stain rubbed off, exposing each time the 
high lights of the wood's grain. The final coat should be a thin coat 
of wax or a flat-drying oil paint to give the wood a dull luster. 




The woodwork treatment here is much the same as that suggested in the 
text, but of a Colonial or English style and finished white. A good sten- 
ciled frieze is used above it. The chairs are of Chippendale design 



The furniture should be of the Flemish type, preferably a shade 
lighter or a shade darker than that of the finish of the woodwork, 
in order to give contrast. The dining-room table should be a mod- 
ern extension table with heavy, turned legs, which would of course 
be repeated in the sideboard, serving-table and chairs. This type of 
furniture depends entirely for its beauty upon its plain sturdy lines 
and simple turnings. The chairs should have leather seats and backs, 
studded with copper nails. The brasses of the fireplace should be 
of odd design, and the electric lights and fixtures should be of old 
brass to add a touch of color to the dark wood finish. 

It seems hardly necessary to mention that the lights of this room 
should be governed by an electric switch, and an electric bell on the 
table should ring a buzzer in the serving-room. 

In the serving-room there is a counter shelf two feet eight inches 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



55 



high on each side wall, over which there are glazed cases with slid- 
ing doors to contain the china. Under the window there is a sink 
for the washing of fine china, glass, and silver, which should not go 
into the kitchen with the heavier dishes. Under the counter are 
cupboards and drawers and at one end a plate-warmer and a small 



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HW|m i 



Still another substitute for the wainscot is the use of wood strips applied 
in this fashion. The Moravian tiles in the fireplace add welcome color 

refrigerator, in order that one may obtain a bite to eat late at night 
without having to go through the kitchen to the kitchen pantry — 
which is sometimes awkward if there is no servant's dining-room and 
the maid is entertaining. 

The finish of the room would cost approximately $575 in selected 
white oak. The mantel alone is worth $80 and the wainscot about 
$300. The furniture for the room, made from detail drawings, 
would cost about $450 in oak and leather. 

A. Raymond Ellis 



56 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Where the dining-room woodwork shows its natural grain, a specially 
designed buffet of quartered oak, such as this, proves very attractive and 
satisfactory 




The rough plaster walls here are surmounted by a plaster frieze of 
grapes in color. This design is echoed in the center drop light 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



57 




Flanking china closets, when in perfect balance, form an admirable feature 
for the decoration of a Colonial room 




The ladder back design of Chippendale is most attractive. In this room 
with its white woodwork an attempt has been made to repeat the dominant 
colors of the rug in the wall paper 




[581 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



59 




Having a large quantity of old blue china, the owner of this room selected 
a brown figured paper that would harmonize with it. The plates have 
almost the value of a stenciled frieze 




Two types of modern furniture are shown here. The china closet is 
unnatural and is of no decorative value and but little usefulness. The 
table and chairs are of simple design and good, solid workmanship 




O 3 
6 X 

si 

£"§ 
o 

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o 



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s « £ 

-2 £ o 

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[6o] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



61 




Faithfulness to Colonial tradition does not necessarily make the most 
comfortable room, but the Windsor chairs are serviceable and easy 




White woodwork in this dining-room permits such a set design as this with 
the little green bay trees. A gate-legged table is not always the most 
comfortable thing for a dining-room 



62 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Furniture, made of applewood, finished with a plain smooth surface and covered 
with reeds, is especially applicable to the small house and suggests the original 
home, the English cottage 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



63 









White enameled furniture as well as woodwork is a novel suggestion for the 
summer home and makes a brilliant, cheery dining-room, especially when 
accompanied by bright reds or blues in the rugs, chair cushions and curtains 




In the summer camp little ornamentation is necessary, yet the natural at- 
tractiveness of wood finish is both useful and beautiful here 




[64] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



65 




This Dutch interior offers a suggestion for a summer camp in the dining-room alcove 
placed at one end of the living-room 




Wilton rugs in a single color with a darker toned border serve well for the dining- 
room. The curtains repeat the color in a figured pattern 



c o 



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Mh i u i w 

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3 £ 5 « « J 



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£ £ 






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<u o '3 

3 £ •£ JS jO S Oh 



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rt o 

o G 

y en 






r-j aj 

Q 



of- 




[66] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



6 7 




T Jfr BflSh 




The combination of gray and white as used here is an effective background for mahogany. 
The candle sconce fixtures at either side of the sideboard alcove are in good taste 




Although the furniture need not be permanently fixed to the room it may be planned to 
accommodate certain spaces, as here. The chairs are reproductions along Colonial 
lines 



68 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




In a house where there is an additional room, there is a suggestion from the German 
boudoir. This is really the modern woman's workroom and place of rest and adjoins 
the sleeping apartment. It is also a place to receive intimate friends 




Decorating and Furnishing 
the Bedroom 



TN the bedroom the individuality of the occupant is more in evi- 
dence than in any other room of the house, as such rooms or 
suites are complete in themselves and need not necessarily be con- 
sidered relatively. Where the house has the marked characteristics 
of any period the architectural detail of the wood trim in the bed- 
rooms as well as that in the other apartments will, of course, express 




Attractive results are achieved in adopting a central figure or idea and 
planning the room about it. The main unit of design in the wall paper 
has been repeated on the ivory white furniture 

[69] 



70 




A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




This room, also shown in the two illustrations following, uses the blue bird as a motif. 
Cretonne repeats the design that is echoed again in the cut out border. A blue and 
white rag rug, having a blue bird edging, is suitable for the floor 

this and must in a measure influence the furnishings, but even under 
these conditions more latitude is permissible in the chambers than 
in the living-rooms. 

A room in which no period idea is dominant may be made very 
charming, and the individual taste of the occupant may influence 
the entire scheme of decoration. A very dainty and attractive room 
is shown in the illustration on page 69. 

The floral paper used on the side wall here is beautiful in color 
and design, and the crown of this has a cut out extension of flowers 
and leaves that is applied directly to the ceiling proper. The furni- 
ture of -ivory enamel finish has been painted with clusters of the same 
flowers as those shown in the wall paper. Much of the green of 
the foliage in this design is repeated in the two-tone rug upon the 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



71 



floor. The curtains and bedspread are made of ivory white linen 
taffeta and bordered with four-inch bands of cretonne showing the 
same floral design as the side walls. 

Much of the comfort as well as the attractiveness of a bedroom 
depends upon the arrangement of the furniture it holds. The space 
for the bed is usually indicated by the architect in the first drafting 
of the plans, and should be adhered to unless the room is unusually 
large. However, the other furniture may be arranged and rear- 
ranged until the right position is found for each piece. 

Where a couch is included this may be placed near the window 
with the bookshelves conveniently at hand, or it may be set directly 
across the foot of the bed. The reading- or work-tables and easy- 
chairs should find their permanent place, as their proper grouping 
adds much to the livableness of any room. 




The wall paper is plain with a satin stripe in what is known as a cerulean blue. The 
crown effect of the border is a silhouetted pattern cut out and attached separately 



72 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



The English idea of placing a dressing-table directly in front of 
a window is not especially favored here as we are loath to sacrifice 
so much of direct sun and air as the closed window would necessitate, 
although by such an arrangement we secure a good overhead light. 

The placing of the lighting fixtures should also be given some 
careful study. Side or drop lights should be near the dressing- 
mirror, and a convenient stand or drop light, well shaded, should be 
placed near the head of the bed. And a well-arranged table light 
for reading and sewing is of great convenience in a large bedroom 
which is used at all as a sitting-room. However small the room, 




A white bedstead of this style may be had either of wood enameled or of metal 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



73 




In many cases the bedroom serves more purposes than for sleeping quarters. There 
should be space for a desk, comfortable chairs and books 



the light must be well arranged for the dressing-table. A central 
light for a bedroom is a very objectionable feature. 

Light and crisp colors are more acceptable in the decorative scheme 
of the bedroom than any other room of the house. Where plain 
walls and figured cretonnes or chintzes are used in combination the 
latter should appear generously, that is, not only in valanced curtains 
at windows, but as slip covers, or cushion covers for chairs, window- 
seat, or lounge. 

The old-time idea of a blue, a pink, a green, and a yellow room 
is falling into disuse, although any one of these colors may be 
brought out prominently in the scheme of the room, or, as is even 
more usual, all may be combined in either wall covering or drapery 
material. The dominant color should appear again in the plain or 
two-tone floor covering. 

Plain and embroidered muslins for window draperies and covers 



74 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



for dressing-tables are effective and dainty, and by having two sets 
for a room it may be kept always delightfully fresh and clean, as 
these muslins launder well. A small coin-dot of color on a very 
sheer, though not fine, white ground can be purchased from 25 to 35 




There is a preference for bedrooms furnished in light colors. Here the 
paper is figured and the color of the design appears in curtains of a solid 
color. The closet doors have full length mirror panels 



cents a yard and gives a dainty charm to a room in which it is 
freely used that few other fabrics at the same cost will supply. 

Where the decorative scheme must be very inexpensively carried 
out, a floral paper on an ivory ground can be purchased for 25 cents 
a roll of eight yards. In these cheaper papers one finds a better 
selection in yellow and old rose than in other colors; greens, too, are 
usually soft and attractive. If plain colored over-draperies are de- 
sired for the windows these may be made from cheese-cloth which 
has been dyed to the desired shade, matching the color of the flower 
in the wall paper. It is not a difficult matter for the amateur to do. 

There are now made some very attractive cotton crepes showing 
a variety of floral and other patterns. Some of these are beautiful in 
color and good in design, and, with plain tinted walls, a room in 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



75 



which the curtains and slip covers for cushions and pillows are made 
from this fabric is very attractive. 

Old furniture may be revamped and given a fresh coat of ivory 
white enamel, and a central rug or a number of small rugs made 




The lighting fixtures should be planned for the position the dressing table and 
chiffonier is to occupy. This is an attractive bedroom paper of an old-fashioned 
design 

after the old-fashioned rag carpet in one or two colors makes a satis- 
factory floor covering for use in such rooms. If the woodwork can 
be painted ivory white the scheme is more successful, as this is an im- 
portant factor in the completed whole. In fact for bedrooms there 
is no better finish than the ivory white enamel. It is easy to apply 
and durable, and harmonizes with almost any scheme of furnishing 
one may desire to bring out in the room. 

Attractive little shades for electric lights or candles may be made 
from bits of silk or even tissue paper, and, used in a room in which 
old rose predominates, the effect is charming, as the light showing 
through the rose color is very soft and pleasing. 

Margaret Greenleaf 



7 6 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 







An unusual decorative treatment is the division of walls into colored 
panels which are held in place by molding strips 




The perpendicular stripe in this paper serves to increase the height of a 
rather low ceiling. The window is fitted with sash curtains and 
draperies of a figured pattern on the order of the crown border 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



11 




An interesting feature of th 
ing or sewing. n 



lis house is the long window seat placed for read- 
Beneath it is a quantity of space for many things 




A room consistently decorated along Colonial lines. Some sort of a couch 
or lounge is a decided boon in the bedroom, as it provides a place for the 
afternoon nap 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 







The so-called craftsman's house or house with woodwork left in natural 
condition may well use furniture built to match the trim 




The informal bedroom of rough plaster and brick substitutes strength of 
color and form for the delicacy of Colonial white woodwork 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



79 




Many people still delight in the old-fashioned four-poster or in the canopy 
bed. This should be considered in planning the room, as the architect 
generally arranges a certain set position for it 




This dressing table shows a satisfactory arrangement for lighting — two 
flanking lights and one overhead light. The striped walls require the 
color furnished by the hangings 




[8o] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



81 




Where neutral grays are chosen for the walls there should be some warmth of color 
elsewhere. Here most of the decoration is left to the furniture in its warm mahogany 
tones and to the brighter colors of the rug 




In the small bedroom that must be used as a study there should be a space for living- 
room comforts. The sash curtains combined with inside ones of sill length are 
attractive 



82 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Even a small under-the-eaves bedroom 
may be well arranged. This is con- 
sistent Colonial with its rag rugs and 
Windsor chair 



A bedroom in which the cream colored 
chintz with pink and green design is 
repeated in the upholstery and echoed 
in the carpet 




f 


1 

1 

1 

If. «j 





Curtains may be very simple but in good 
taste. This is a fine cheesecloth with 
a stencil design, which conventionalizes 
the flowers in the wall paper 



Another treatment of cheesecloth, show- 
ing a poppy design that is taken from 



the cut out band pasted at the 
of a gray striped wall paper 



top 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



83 




Views of an old-fashioned bedroom that 
is finished in dull grayish blue. Such 
heavy furniture would appear uncom- 
fortably bulky in any smaller room 



The carpet helps to make the room home- 
like, with bare floors the height and 
size of the room would be more ap- 
parent 




A short length of cretonne hanging be- 
tween two sill length curtains may 
be used instead of a valance 




The cut out paper border goes well with 
a shaped valance and side curtains. 
The valance is hung on a projecting 
frame 



8 4 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




The Japanese design is repeated on the gathered valance of the 
curtains, chairs and the table-cover. Several original stencils of 
butterflies are framed as decorations 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



85 




Ivory white is always a satisfactory color for the woodwork of most 
bedrooms. Here it takes the place of wall paper 




One article of bedroom furniture that should not be neglected is a 
bedside cabinet on which an electric light may be placed. These twin 
beds are of gray ash with a natural finish 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




An example of several of the uses for stenciled borders is shown here in 
this desk corner. The room makes good use of wicker furniture and 
bungalow rugs 




TheProblem of the Bathroom 



/^\ NLY a few years ago, sanitary conveniences, which were very 
crude when compared with those of to-day, were considered 
luxuries; to-day they are necessities, demanded for our physical com- 
fort and welfare. The old-fashioned Saturday tubbing was a much 
dreaded and messy event; but with sanitary house plumbing, bathing 
became a pleasure and a valuable adjunct to good health. It is, there- 
fore, interesting to note the treatments of the present bathroom. 

The average house to-day contains at least two bathrooms, the 
simplest equipment being a water-closet, lavatory, and tub, the 
two latter fixtures supplied with hot and cold water supply pipes. 
From these three fixtures of the simplest kind, installed in a 
room not smaller than 5 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 6 in., we may enlarge the 
scheme to contain a shower-bath, with floor receptor to catch the 
water, a sitz or foot-bath, double lavatories, if for the owner's bath, 
with marble or porcelain pier slabs for toilet articles. These fix- 
tures may be simple in pattern, of enameled iron or of porcelain or 
marble, in a room having tile or marble floors and wainscot. There 
are, happily, inexpensive fixtures of good quality that are just as 
efficient as the most expensive ones, and the plainer the lines of the 
fixtures the more beautiful they will appear in the finished bath; 
heavy ornamentation in color or molded design should be avoided — 
it is not so easily kept clean, nor is it so beautiful. 

In many houses having but one servant, a separate bath is pro- 
vided for her use, and in a house costing $8,000 it is customary to 
provide a private bath connecting with the owner's chamber, as well 

[87] 



88 A Book of Distinctive Interiors 

as a general bath for the family and guests, and a servants' bath in 
the attic. The importance the bath and sanitary plumbing have 
attained is shown by the fact that seven or eight per cent of the cost 
of a house is taken for plumbing, and in houses costing from $8,000 
to $15,000, three bathrooms are installed. 

The model servants' bath should have a floor of small hexagonal 
white, unglazed tile with hard plastered walls, above a sanitary base. 




6-0" X id- 6 

Dath Room 

Tile FLooe-AND -Wainscot 




Two oval lavatories are generally representative 
of the latest convenience for the modern 
bathroom 



painted with four coats of moisture-resisting paint and equipped with 
a five-foot enameled iron tub, quiet syphon-jet closet, with oak seat 
and tank, and a plain pattern enameled iron lavatory. A medicine 
closet should be built in the wall over it, having a mirror set in the 
door. The fixtures cannot be properly set in an area less than 5 ft. 
6 in. x 6 ft. 6 in., and 5 ft. 6 in. x 7 ft. 6 in. would be much better. 

The owner's bath is largely a matter of personal taste and cost. 
Usually this has a floor of 2 in. white, unglazed hexagonal tile, with 
a 4 x 6 in. white glazed tile for walls, with cap and sanitary base, 
marble thresholds and plinth blocks. The height of the wainscot is 
optional; but 4 ft. 6 in. is usual, with the walls and ceilings above it 
oil painted. The room should not be smaller than 8 ft. x 10 ft. and 
may open from the owner's chamber or dressing-room. Its equip- 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



89 



ment usually comprises two lavatories of vitreous china, placed at 
least six inches apart, unless a double lavatory is used in one slab, 
over which may be a medicine closet built into the wall with mirror 
door set in; the bathroom door should have a full-length mirror. In 
the illustration that appears on page 95 is shown a silent syphon-jet 




The great problem in planning a bathroom is not to sacrifice all warmth and color to 
sanitation. At present there are washable and sanitary papers made by the decorators 
that are very proper for bathroom furnishings. The seagull design in blues and' 
greens and the kingfisher in a brilliant, cool green are both suitable and attractive 

closet with low-down tank finished in mahogany. The " low-down 
combinations," as they are called, are made in oak, cherry, mahogany, 
and white enamel. The tub should be at least 5 ft. long, of enameled 
iron or porcelain, finished on both sides if enameled, and supported 
on porcelain block feet, with standing waste and mixing cocks. The 
tub must be set far enough from the wall to permit cleaning. 

Every fitting or exposed pipe in the bathroom should be nickel- 
plated. The shower may be installed over the tub, as in one of the 
illustrations, or made a separate fixture with a floor receptor to drain 
off the water. It may be inclosed with a cotton duck curtain, which 
is more agreeable to the body than rubber or marble slabs. The 






[90] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



9i 



merits of each fixture and its equipment I shall leave to the reader, 
because these things he can readily determine for himself; but the 
arrangements and number of fixtures required must be considered — 
the quality is a matter of price. The general bathroom of a house 
should be similar to the owner's — in some cases it is divided into two 




One especial convenience that should not be neglected is the shower with the 
duck curtain arranged over the top. For bathroom floors the hexagonal 
tile is very suitable and enduring 



compartments, as shown in one plan, with the water-closet by itself 
— permitting independent use. 

In homes costing from $15,000 up, the number of bathrooms is 
in proportion to the number of occupants. Every room may have a 
connecting bath with tile floor and wainscot, completely equipped — in 
such a case the visit of a guest is not fraught with hasty skirmishes 
to the nearest bath, perhaps only to retreat, and wait and listen for an 
opportunity to use it. 

Plumbing fixtures are made in many materials; the most popular 
of these, on account of durability and cost, is cast iron with an enamel 
glaze fused on the iron. This ware will stand hard usage, is not 
easily fractured, does not craze, and therefore holds its color. The 



92 A Book of Distinctive Interiors 

vitreous china ware is, I think, more appropriate for bathrooms fin- 
ished in tile, because the materials, being similar, are in harmony, 
while the enameled iron is not quite as heavy or substantial looking 
when used with tile. Vitreous china is potter's clay, properly fired, 
with a vitreous glaze baked on; porcelain is similar and their cost is 




A sunken bathtub is a form of luxury that is desirable but requires low 
ceiling in the room below, or that the bathroom be built on the ground 
floor. This is oftentimes an impossible arrangement 

about the same, except that this increases rapidly with the larger 
pieces; because fewer perfect fixtures are obtained. Fixtures cut from 
solid marble block are the most expensive and their relative merit 
with their relation to cost is a question for the owner to determine. 

There is little difference between the enameled iron, vitreous china 
and porcelain or marble as far as the retention of heat is concerned, 
or the feeling from bodily contact. There are in every kiln some 
fixtures that are not quite perfect; they are called " seconds," and 
catalogued as " Class B " goods, with a lower price. 

The weight of massive plumbing in a frame dwelling is considerable 
and will cause a settlement of the floors unless carefully supported. 

The fashions in tubs are many. The usual shape is square at the 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



93 



foot and round at the head — at the foot are the waste and supply 
pipes which are made in several combinations. The double bath cock, 
which gives hot or cold water or a mixture of both, is advisable for 
tubs — the small cup between the faucets is a ring tray and can be 
replaced with a soap dish if desired. Most shower-baths have a 




The bathroom to-day finds great need of such built-in conveniences as 
wall chests and cupboards. These should be arranged for at the time 
the house is built 



shampoo attachment or body spray that can be used instead of the 
overhead shower, so that the head and hair are kept dry if desired, 
and if a shower is not to be installed this can be provided in the tub. 
A tub incased in tile is a perfectly sanitary treatment, and in some 
cases the tub has been sunk into the floor a foot and then incased to 
avoid the high step necessary to get into the tub. The plunge — sunk 
in the floor — is an unusual treatment that permits more freedom 
of movement than the tub; but the tile, when wet, is slippery, and I 
should expect one might carelessly slip in with fatal results. Roman 
tubs are alike at each end — with fixtures in the middle of one side 
of the rim. Solid porcelain tubs rest on the floor, set into the tile. 
The ideal position for the tub, if there is available room, is with the 
foot against a wall and ample room on either side to get in or out 



94 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




This room contains the desirable articles and fixtures for the modern bathroom 
in a very satisfactory arrangement. There is the latest thing in nickel plumb- 
ing and modern equipment, but at the same time there is an attractiveness that 
is so lacking in the cold, hospital type of room 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



95 



of it. Tubs are made in lengths ranging from 4 ft. to 6 feet, and 
about 30 inches in width over rims. 

The lavatory is an important fixture that is made in a great many 
varieties. The old-fashioned bowl is obsolete — the oval has taken 




The small hexagonal floor tiles permit sections to be taken up with 
little difficulty and replaced at small expense. Wall tile, how- 
ever, should be made of the larger rectangular units with a 
cornice at the top and a rounded surbase that obviates a sharp 
angle at the junction with the floor 



its place, though probably the best is the kidney-shaped bowl, as it 
permits a free and natural movement of the arms in raising water to 
lave the face. The bowl should be at least 14 x 17 inches, in a slab 
22 x 32, with a space surrounding the bowl countersunk a little to 




° 2 C £ 



[96] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



97 



form a border that tends to confine the splashed water. All the 
fixtures manufactured by responsible concerns are equipped with 
nickel-plated faucets, wastes, traps, and supplies that are very satis- 
factory; but quite often the plumber who installs the work buys the 




This European treatment is particularly effective for the owner's 
bath, which opens into his bedroom. The glass doors provide 
all the lighting necessary and are very decorative with their 
curved segments 



fixtures without the selected trimmings and substitutes a cheaper 
pattern. Some tubs and lavatories are sold in " A " and " B " quali- 
ties, and it will be to your advantage to select the fixtures with your 
architect, who knows the grades and fittings. 

A particularly pleasing treatment is the bath opening from the 



9 8 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



owner's chamber, and separated from it by glass partition. This 
arrangement is good where outside light cannot be afforded or 
obtained, and a curtain effectively screens it. 

Bath-room accessories should be arranged with care and consist 




A simple bathroom where waterproof enameled paint was used in sev- 
eral coats instead of a tiled wainscot, and above this an attractive 
waterproof paper that suggests tiling. Such an arrangement is a 
possibility where tiles may not be purchased 

of the following devices: Plate glass shelves supported on nickel- 
plated brackets are the best; towel-racks; toothbrush holders; clothes- 
brush hangers; clothes hooks; soap dishes; and soiled towel baskets. 
Hardware is usually of nickel-plated tubing screwed into the tile. 
The accompanying photographs and plans will illustrate the subject 
further and are self-explanatory. 

A. Raymond Ellis 




The Proper Treatment for the 

Nursery 



TTURNISHINGS for the modern child's room, like everything 
else that belongs to that important personage, are as complete 
in the smallest detail as skill and ingenuity can make them, and every 
feature of a well-appointed bedroom may be duplicated in miniature 
for the youngsters. 

The wall-papers and draperies especially designed for nurseries 
and children's rooms are in a way more distinctively juvenile than 
the actual pieces of furniture, and are a most important considera- 
tion in fitting out such apartments. If one does not care to go to 
the expense of furnishing a nursery completely, paper and curtains 
that will leave no doubt as to the identity of the room may be had at 
small cost, and from this simple touch the scheme of decorations and 
the furniture, to say nothing of the cost, may be indefinitely extended. 

Strictly hygienic parents who scout the idea of wall-paper as being 
unhealthy and will have nothing but painted walls in a bedroom are 
confronted by a bare expanse that may be sanitary, but is neither 
attractive nor interesting for the child. With walls treated in this 
way a decorative frieze may be used with good effect. The friezes, 
which come in panels varying in depth from fourteen to nineteen 
and one-half inches, are printed in gay colors on backgrounds of 
blue-gray, ivory-white, drab, and other neutral tones that can be 
matched exactly in the color of the walls. The designs include pro- 
cessions of Noah's ark inhabitants, farmyard animals, chickens and 

[99] 



ioo A Book of Distinctive Interiors 

ducks, Normandy peasants going to market, toy villages with stiff 
little soldiers and prim-looking trees, hunting scenes, and a row of 
Dutch kiddies indulging in a mad race across the paper. 

If wall-paper is used it also matches the background of the frieze, 
the paper being either in a solid color or with a figure so incon- 
spicuous that it gives the impression of a single tone. 

One of the new papers for children's rooms is a reproduction of 
the quaint Kate Greenaway figures that are quite as fascinating to 
little people in these days as they were years ago. The background 
is a pale yellow and the figures are printed in rather delicate colors, 
each group representing one of the calendar months. The effect is 
particularly dainty and the designs are diverting for the children 
without becoming tiresome from too great contrast in color. An- 
other paper that shows groups quite as charming is printed from 
designs by Boutet de Monvel, the famous French illustrator of child 
life. 

A new idea, and one that is proving popular, is a decided de- 
parture from the conventional wall-paper, with its figures at regu- 
larly repeated intervals. This consists in first putting on the walls 
a paper of solid color to be used as a background for single figures 
or groups that are cut from friezes and pasted on to suit one's indi- 
vidual taste. The figures, of course, must be quite large, in order 
to be effective, and in some favorite groups cut from a frieze show- 
ing little Dutch girls and yellow chicks the latter are even larger than 
life. For nurseries, when the children are very small, the figures 
are often arranged in a frieze just above the foot-board, so that they 
come on a line with the child's eye, and are therefore vastly more 
entertaining than when placed at the infinite distance of the top of 
the wall. 

Blue and white seems to be the favorite combination of colors for 
nursery draperies, and among the all-over patterns are a lot of roly- 
poly children picking gigantic daisies on a pale blue ground, and 
also a Delft design on a white ground covered with black cross lines 
that are far enough apart to give a tiled effect. A number of other 
colors and patterns may be had as well as the gay printed borders 
that come two strips to a width of the material. When figured wall- 
paper is used, draperies of solid color with the printed border are 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



101 



rather more satisfactory, as one set of children or animals tumbling 
over the walls, and another set chasing across the draperies, create a 
bewildering impression that is anything but restful and quieting for 
the small occupant. The borders are particularly attractive for cur- 




The playroom in this house was to be made use of by the grown folks 
occasionally for their handicraft work. Special attention was paid 
to built-in closets convenient for toys and tools 

tains made of plain scrim or some soft white material, and are 
stitched on in strips or cut out and put on in silhouette. 

Floor coverings especially suitable for children's rooms are to 
be found in the more or less recently revived rag carpet rugs, either 
plain or with figured borders. Almost any of these rugs with their 
decorative strips showing queerly constructed landscapes are suit- 
able, but most appropriate is one that has a solemn procession of 
geese across either end, or another that is ornamented with a family 
of black and white bunnies lined up against a red brick wall. They 
come in various sizes, from the small hearthrug up to the one that 
is large enough for the center of an average size room. 

A new rug for nurseries that is rather more practical than pretty 
is woven in the same way as the rag rugs, but instead of cotton ma- 
terials, strips of oilcloth are used, rolled so that the glossy side is 



102 A Book of Distinctive Interiors 

uppermost. The idea was first employed in making small rugs for 
bathrooms, as they are waterproof and easy to keep clean, but they 
are quite as serviceable and sanitary for children's rooms, and are 
cleaned by wiping oft with a damp cloth. They are made in dif- 
ferent sizes, and in a mixed design, like the ordinary rag rug, or 
with white centers and borders of solid color. 

In the way of furniture, chairs and beds are to be had in a much 
greater variety than the other pieces, and the miniature Morris 
chair is no doubt the most attractive piece of furniture that is made 
for the little folks. It comes in almost as many different styles and 
prices as the grown-up variety, and may be had in light or dark wood, 
with cushions of velour or leather or figured cotton material, and is a 
perfect reproduction of the large chair. Little sets consisting of 
table and two chairs, one straight, the other with arms, are dec- 
orated with juvenile figures in color, and may be had for prices that 
are quite reasonable. They are especially useful when no attempt 
can be made at arranging a regulation nursery. One of the most 
serviceable of these sets is of dark wood with leather seat chairs and 
a table of good size, the top of which is hinged and may be raised 
disclosing a receptacle for toys or books. 

Small willow and wicker tables and chairs are made in attractive 
shapes, many of them copies of the larger pieces, and are used either 
in the natural color or stained to harmonize with the color scheme 
of the room. Less substantial than the pieces made of solid wood, 
they are rather more practical for older children than for small 
ones who are no respecters of furniture, and, while designed for use 
all the year round, they are particularly suitable for summer rooms 
or to be carried outdoors. 

In spite of the fact that the little white bed is always associated 
with the child's room in story and song, to say nothing of the 
popular imagination, there are various kinds of brass and wooden beds 
made in small sizes that are thoroughly in keeping with one's idea of 
a typical nursery. The white enamel beds, which may be had as plain 
or as elaborate as one desires, are always dainty, and have the 
advantage of harmonizing perfectly with furniture and hangings of 
almost every description. Brass beds have the same characteristic, 
but they are much more expensive than those of iron, and seem to 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



103 




The sense of possession that the child has in its own room produces much satisfaction. 
Substantial furniture may be purchased in small sizes and a variety of wall treat- 
ments are suggested with interesting friezes 



require rather more elaborate surroundings. The newest brass beds 
for children are quite low, only about half as high as the ordinary 
bed, which is a distinct advantage, as it is much easier for the child 
to climb into, and less dangerous in case he falls out. 

A recently designed wooden bed of attractive appearance shows 
severely plain lines in the head and foot boards, and in the sides 
long narrow panels are cut out, through which the covering of the 
box spring is seen. This bed is made only to order, and is intended 
for elaborately decorated rooms in which a definite color scheme is 
carried out. It may be had in any desired width and stained any 
color to match the other furniture, while the box spring and little 
pillow and mattress are covered with the same material as the dra- 
peries of the room. 



104 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Japanese prints are being received with increasing favor and thousands of beautiful 
designs are particularly appropriate for the children's room. The subjects are chiefly 
natural history figures and they serve as an inspiration to have stories woven about 
them 



Furniture of a special size for children's rooms is made in a design 
that is substantial and handsome, by the manufacturer of a well- 
known and widely used type. There is a wardrobe just five feet high, 
with compartments for hats, clothing, and shoes; a bureau twenty-nine 
inches high, with a twenty-inch mirror on it; a bed with high sides, 
the simple decorations of which match those of the bureau; rocking 
chairs and straight chairs with leather seats, a settle, and tables of 
different sizes and shapes. Nothing could be more attractive or com- 
plete than a room furnished in this way for a child of six or seven 
years who has outgrown the daintier surroundings of the nursery. It 
has all of the dignity of a well-appointed grown-up room, but with 
everything in proportion to the size of its owner. 

Even washstand sets, suitable as to shape and decoration, may be 
had for the child's room in which no detail is to be omitted. They 
are little if any smaller than the usual sets, but the decorations are in 
keeping with those of the other appointments, and the pitchers are 
designed with a view to their being handled easily by small hands. 
They are not unlike milk jugs in shape, with a substantial handle over 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



105 



the top and another at the back, so that there is small chance of their 
slipping while in transit, and the mouth is a definitely formed one that 
will not fail to pour in the direction intended. 

For a comparatively small amount a room may be fitted up with 
enough distinctive juvenile furnishings to impart individuality and 
to give the child a sense of possession that it will never have in grown- 
up surroundings. Even though circumstances are such that it has not 
had an elaborate nursery, as soon as a child is old enough to have a 
room of its own there is no reason why the furnishings should not be 
in keeping, and with the expenditure of a little money a dainty and 
attractive room may be arranged. High-priced beds and other pieces 
of furniture are by no means necessary, and, as is often the case, the 
most reasonably furnished room may be the most satisfactory if a 
little ingenuity and good taste are brought into service. 

Thirty to thirty-two dollars can be made to cover the cost of wall- 
paper, curtains, bed and mattress, a rug and a bureau, all in sizes and 
designs suitable for children. The wall-papers in juvenile patterns 
are not expensive, and the cost of papering a room of average size 









There are various ways that Japanese prints may be used in the child's room. This 
and the opposite illustration show prints put on the wall and held by a molding 
at top and bottom. This also may contain a glass to protect each picture 



io6 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




/-- 



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There are decorations such as this that have an educational value and that take 
the place of toys. These little figures on the left are really companions, while 
the plaster plaque illustrates Stevenson's Verses 






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These bas-reliefs make interesting decora- 
tions and at the same time serve as 
object lessons in illustrating good poetry 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 107 

would be about five dollars. A little white iron bed may be had for 
as low as five dollars, with seven dollars additional for the mattress, 
and a rug 3x6 feet in size with a decorative border is $3.50. A 
bureau of small size, such as comes in an inexpensive grade of the 
so-called antique oak, costs about $8.00. For the very reason that 
the furnishings of the room are only temporary, and soon to be out- 
grown and discarded, it is quite satisfactory to buy a cheap grade of 
furniture whenever possible, if price is a consideration. A small 
bureau is less expensive than one made especially in a child's size, and 
is equally practical if not so substantially made. Such a bureau can 
be done over in white enamel to match the bed, or in any dark color 
that may be preferred in place of the shiny oak finish. 

For curtains that hang straight from the top of the window to the 
lower edge of the sash, scrim at twenty-five cents a yard would cost 
two dollars. Allowing four yards for each of two windows, and 
enough printed cretonne to make a decorative border, it would cost 
a dollar and a half additional. 

These figures are of the very lowest for which a child's room can 
be fitted up, but even with everything of the most inexpensive grade 
it will give more real pleasure than one on which a much greater 
amount has been spent if the room is nondescript in its furnishings 
and fails to impress the child with a sense of ownership. 

Sarah Leyburn Coe 




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In the right place half-timber work on plaster has 
many possibilities for hall decoration 



Characteristic Staircase Types 
and Hall Treatments 




Japanese grass cloth in golden color is an excellent combination for 
chestnut stained light brown. Wood strips are used instead of paneling 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



109 




In certain old Colonial halls the entrance is fashioned in a semicircular 
recess up which the stairs curve in a spiral. The effect is exceedingly 
beautiful but requires much space 




The front door in this house opens directly into the living-room, into which 
stairs come down at one side. The wood has natural treatment and part 
of the banister forms the wainscot of the room 



no 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




Some of the best Colonial detail is to be 
found in newel posts where careful 
craftsmen worked a variety of spirals 



One method of securing pleasing deco- 
rative effects was the use of balusters 
in three different designs 




In the old farmhouses for the sake of 
warmth the main stairway was made 
with the smallest possible well and 
often closed with a door at the main 
hall 



This is a modern example by Wilson Eyre 
of the stair well inclosed for the greater 
part of its length. Such arrangement 
is only possible under certain lighting, 
conditions 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



1 1 1 




The stairs that rise from this living-room are designed to take 
up as little room as possible. In this they are very successful 
and little of the banister rail and stair woodwork can be seen 




Where there is a large room made dignified by architectural decoration 
the twin stairways curving either side of a main flight are decidedly im- 
pressive; but one should not plan to make use of this effect in any but a 
pretentious house 




[112] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



113 




This view shows to good advantage the value of an archway between 
living-room and hall. Woodwork, simply carved, frames in delightfully 
the stairway which is so appropriately treated with a forest frieze. Cur- 
tains would be objectionable here 



ii 4 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 




This hall is of generous width, and the stairs rise straight with but one 
landing lighted by a large window. A window is almost a necessity in 
the hall as it permits a free circulation of air throughout the house 




A use of the Colonial flat arch which : 
living-room and makes a 



ates this stairway from the 
11 room of it 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



ii5 




Simplicity characterizes this Colonial stairway that is very similar to 
the one at the top of page 114. There is, however, a baseboard treatment 
which, like the banister rail, is crowned with mahogany 




In the recess made by the vestibule the stairway is economically placed. 
The hall serves the double purpose of entrance and reception room 




Planning the Kitchen 



/ T -v HERE is a growing and altogether proper tendency to treat 
■*■ the kitchen as an integral part of the house, which was almost 
entirely absent in English and American houses of early times; in 
fact, until within the last twenty-five years very little thought was 
attached to it. A century ago it was regarded advisable to have the 
kitchen occupy a separate building somewhat removed from the 
main building or located at a great distance from the dining or 
living rooms, ofttimes the whole length of the house. The principal 
reason for this was the primitive methods used in cooking and pre- 
paring foods which were very objectionable at close range. Odors, 
noises and unsanitary appliances made the kitchen a place to be 
abhorred and to be kept as far away as possible. The present-day 
intelligent methods of dealing with the kitchen, particularly in Amer- 
ica, have effected a complete transformation in this old idea. Our 
modern successful architect of the home attaches great importance to 
the planning of the kitchen, with its adjoining pantries, closets, 
storage rooms, etc. ; and rightfully he should, as it goes more towards 
making for the convenience, help and comfort of the up-to-date 
household than possibly any other feature of the home. 

The modern English kitchen with its relation to the dining-room 
is interesting for comparison with those here in America, chiefly 
because the early English settlers constitute the original source from 
which we obtain our start in house-building. The English kitchen's 

[116] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



117 



adjuncts practically comprise separate departments, such as the scul- 
lery, larder, wood, ashes, knives and boots, fuel, etc. This con- 
dition naturally requires the employment of considerable help even 
in the smaller homes. On the other hand, the compactness so 
noticeable in American homes — requiring perhaps one-half the space, 




The model kitchen has developed considerably from the higgledy- 
piggledy arrangement of Colonial times. Supplies are limited to 
the most necessary articles, and these stored away in a handy 
location 



thus reducing the necessary help to a minimum and obtaining the 
maximum of convenience — has brought our kitchen to a standard, 
nearly, if not entirely, approaching the ideal. The American archi- 
tect has based his idea for this compactness upon the same reasoning 
as is exercised in fitting up a convenient workshop, for truly a kitchen 
is the workshop of the house. Again, the peculiar custom of medi- 
eval times in placing the kitchen a considerable distance from the 
dining-room still survives in the English homes, while in American 
homes a marked difference has long prevailed. The kitchen here is 
usually placed as near as possible to the dining-room, only separated, 
if at all, by a china-closet, pantry, or butler's room. 



n8 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



Convenience, cleanliness and ventilation are three essentials that 
must be paramount in arranging the up-to-date kitchen and its acces- 
sories. 

While there may be differences as to minor details, the principal 
features to be obtained in establishing a modern kitchen may be 
found in the various suggestions herein contained: 

ist. The kitchen should be roomy but not excessively large. 
This applies to any size of house, as too large a kitchen is maintained 




Such a kitchen de luxe is expensive, but not extravagant. The built-in 
range, tiled wall and floor, together with the open plumbing, give the 
highest degree of sanitation 

at the expense of convenience and labor. An ideal size for a kitchen 
in a house measuring 25x50 (containing living-room, reception 
room, dining-room and pantry on first floor) would be 12x15 feet. 
2nd. The general construction of the interior is of the utmost 
importance. The floor may be of hard Georgia pine, oiled, or 
covered with linoleum or oilcloth.- As a covering, linoleum of a 
good inlaid pattern, while more expensive than oilcloth, proves the 
best and most economical in length of service. In a house where 
comfort is demanded regardless of cost, an interlocking rubber tiling 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



119 



is suggested. This flooring absolutely avoids noises and slipping and 
is comfortable to the feet, as well as being of an exceptional dura- 
bility. Other floors of a well-merited character are unglazed tile, 
brick, or one of the many patented compositions consisting chiefly of 
cement, which is also fireproof. 

The wainscoting, if adopted for the kitchen, can be of tile, enam- 
eled brick, or matched and V-jointed boards, varnished or painted; 




The sink should have a drainboard space and be located where the light 
may fall directly upon it. The row of hooks for utensils saves much 
walking 



but in any event should be connected with the floor in a manner to 
avoid cracks for collecting dust or dirt. This is accomplished (when 
a wooden wainscot is used) by means of a plain rounded molding 
which is set in the rightangle formed by the junction of the floor 
with the wainscot. While seldom seen, because of the expense, a 
kitchen completely tiled or bricked on walls, floor and ceiling is 
indeed a thing of beauty and necessarily an ideally sanitary room. 

The doors, window frames, dressers and other necessary wood- 
work should be plain, made of medium wood and painted some 



120 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



light color or enameled white; or finished in the natural state with 
a transparent varnish. 

The walls and ceiling, if not tiled or bricked, should be finished 
with a hard smooth plaster and painted three or four coats of some 
light color — light yellow, green, or blue making a very agreeable 
color to the eye. This manner of treatment permits the walls to be 




DJHfMCl BOOM 



The butler's pantry should have an indirect connection between the kitchen 
and the dining-room. The two doors here keep out odors, noise and heat 
from the dining-room. The refrigerator is in the cook's pantry and opens 
out on the porch 



washed and kept free from dust and dirt, which latter is a disagree- 
able feature in the use of wall papers. 

3rd. The proper installation of the various furnishings of the 
kitchen is worthy of much thought and consideration. Of all these, 
nothing is of more vital importance nor appeals more strongly to 
the household than the range. The size of the range is largely 
governed by the size of the house or the number of persons it is 
intended to serve. However, it is advisable to have a range not 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



121 



less than three feet square for a seven or eight-room house. It 
should be of a thoroughly modern style, with a hood over it, either 
built in or of sheet iron, an excellent provision for drawing away 
the steam and fumes of cooking. And, by all means, the range 
should be placed so that direct daylight falls upon it. Most present- 
day houses also have either gas or electric ranges installed in them 




The modern kitchen may be neat and clean if all of wood, with V-matched 
boards varnished or painted. The space under the drainboard here for a 
table is a feature worth adopting. The cupboard over the shelf is also an 
attractive feature 



and these should be near the coal range so as to confine all cooking 
to one part of the kitchen; and further, especially in winter when 
large gatherings are entertained, they furnish a combined service. 
Some large establishments, in addition to the range, are especially 
equipped with " warmers." 

The sink, being so closely allied in its usefulness to the range, 
should be placed near the latter and under, between or near win- 
dows, but never where the person using it would have his back 
to the light. It may be of galvanized iron, copper, soapstone or 
enameled porcelain, and provided with an ample draining-board; 



122 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



two being much preferred. If there is a special sink for vegetables 
required, it should be immediately adjoining the draining-board to 
insure compactness and convenience as well as economy in plumbing. 
The draining-board may be of hard wood or of wood covered with 
copper or zinc. The best are made of enameled ware similar to 
the sinks. Draining-boards of copper or zinc should be given only 




A feature of this plan is the sliding door connecting the kitchen and 
pantry. This may be closed when cooking is in progress and successfully 
keeps all odors from rinding their way into the dining-room. Opposite 
windows provide a cross draft and excellent ventilation 



a slight slope to prevent the possibility of dishes slipping therefrom. 

The refrigerator should be built in or placed against an outside 
wall in order that the ice can be put in easily from without through 
either a small opening or window. If it can be avoided, the refriger- 
ator should not be placed immediately in the kitchen, but rather 
in the entry, pantry or enclosed porch. 

The kitchen of the small house which sometimes has no com- 
municating pantry should have built therein dressers of such pro- 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



123 



portions as will accommodate all the necessary dishes, pots, vessels, 
bins for flour, sugar, etc., cutlery, and other things essential for 
obtaining the best results under the circumstances. A dresser of 
commodious size is always a blessing. The top portion, of plain 
shelves, should be enclosed either with doors or sliding glass fronts; 
the lower portion, first lined with zinc and enclosed with solid 
wooden doors so constructed to fit nearly if not airtight. If an 




This German kitchen is a model of neatness and cleanliness in its white 
enamel furnishings. The cupboard provides space for china, the long 
shelf beneath being a great convenience, while the various bins and 
drawers provide proper places for everything 



exclusive pot closet is desired, it should be handy to the range and 
at the same time be under cover for sanitary reasons. 

Frequently in a small kitchen a counter or drop leaves against 
the wall are substituted for a table, but in most kitchens a good- 
sized substantial table, preferably in the center of the room, is 
found indispensable. The table should have a smooth top that 
can be easily kept clean. Although costly, a heavy plate glass fitted 
perfectly with rounded edges makes a splendid top for the table. 

The service part of the house, of which the kitchen is the central 
room, should fit together just as parts of a machine and form a 



I2 4 



A Book of Distinctive Interi 



ors 



unit in themselves. The pantries, store rooms, etc., should be placed 
so as to afford easy access one to the other. 

In a house, which has two or more servants, a dining-room or 
alcove should be provided for their use. This may be a part of 
the kitchen or immediately adjoining, and merely large enough to 
seat comfortably the servants around a table. 

The cook's pantry should contain cupboards in which are all the 
necessary paraphernalia for preparing pastries, puddings, etc., such 




A kitchen in a large country place that is equipped with every possible convenience, 
sliding doors, built-in refrigerator, clothes chute, dumbwaiter and a revolving drum 
between kitchen and butler's pantry. There is also provision made for a servants 7 
dining-room, advisable wherever possible 



as bins, bakeboards, crockery, pans and supplies, and should be 
lighted by at least one window. 

The butler's pantry, or china-closet as it is often called — generally 
located and affording direct communication between the kitchen and 
the dining-room — is essentially a serving-room and should contain 
a sink with draining-boards, cupboards and shelves to accommodate 
the fine china, glassware and other requisites for the table. With 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 125 

such a plan the door between the pantry and kitchen may be either 
sliding or double swinging, but between the pantry and the dining- 
room, a noiseless double-swinging door. A slide, with small shelves 
or counters on either side, between the kitchen and pantry, for the 
passing of food and dishes, saves time and steps. It is well to have 



The kitchen need not be large, if it is compact. In the house 25' x 50' the 
ideal size is about 13' x 15'. A work table of this sort does away with 
many unnecessary steps, the lower shelf being a convenient place to put 
articles that are in constant use 

the communication rather indirect through the pantry to prevent in 
a measure the passage of odors or a direct view of the kitchen by 
those entering the dining-room or seated at the table. This can 
be partly accomplished by not having the communicating doors 
directly opposite each other. 

The outside entrance to the kitchen should be so placed as to 
facilitate the delivery of provisions, preferably through an entry or 
an enclosed porch. 

The laundry in many houses is combined with the kitchen or 
immediately adjoining, in which latter case it often serves as an 
entry and a place to store certain articles, such as brooms, buckets 





126] 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



127 



and possibly the refrigerator. The very best plan is to have the 
laundry in the basement, with separate outside stairs. In such a 
case, a chute for sending soiled linen, etc., should run from the 
kitchen or pantry to the laundry. 

The kitchen should above all be well ventilated and have plenty 
of daylight. The necessary fumes and heat arising from the cook- 




Plaster walls should be finished with a hard surface and given several coats 
of a waterproof paint. The shelves beneath the sink here provide a place 
useful and easily accessible 

ing should be taken care of in such a way that none of it is carried 
to the dining-room or to other parts of the house. This can partly 
be accomplished by the hood over the range, but plenty of fresh air 
is required. Generally in country homes, the living-rooms are given 
the southern exposure, so the kitchen usually faces the north. The 
best location is either the northern or eastern exposure, as the cool- 
ing breezes in the summer generally come from that direction, espe- 
cially in this part of the country, and combined with the morning 
sun, make the kitchen cheerful and cool. If possible there should 
be exposure on at least two sides, opposite, affording cross ventilation 
as well as an abundance of light. All windows should be well fitted 



128 



A Book of Distinctive Interiors 



with screens in summer to keep out flies and other insects attracted 
by the odors of cooking. 

The best artificial lighting is obtained by a reflector in the center 
of the kitchen, possibly with side brackets where necessary, as at 
the sink or at the range. 

In a large house the service portion may be situated in a separate 




A very novel kitchen cupboard is this, with the shelf space in 
the doors giving almost a double capacity. The bread 
board slides beneath a shelf and is provided with handles 



wing and if so the stairs should be in a small hall, centrally located 
and near the kitchen, especially the stairs to the cellar. This hall 
may contain a closet for brooms and a lavatory for the use of the 
servants. It it well not to have the stairway ascending directly from 
the kitchen, as it lessens the valuable wall space. The rooms directly 
over the kitchen can best be utilized in most cases for servants' sleep- 
ing rooms as they are often objectionable for members of the house- 
hold, or guests. 

James Earle Miller 



H25 85 











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